Speech

Ollie and I saw the speech pathologist for the first time last October, so this was a follow-up session. I wanted to see her mainly for the drooling. I have no issues with Oliver's speech. I don't even think we should have gone last time, but Ollie didn't really know his 20 (Or was it 50?) words by 2 years old, and I mentioned it to the ECHN and thus we got the speech appointment. Really I should have just relaxed. Only in hindsight with 2nd child who talks superbly for his age can I say that.

I can understand what Ollie's saying most of the time, or what he wants to say. Actually Steve understands him a lot more than I do, but we get by. He's got this tendency to say "I want that thing, that Thing". I never know what "thing" refers to, but I've noticed that I use the word "thing" a lot. Also he says "I think" at the end of sentences a lot. Random sentences. Steve and I both do the "i think" thing, I think.

So anyway, the speech path said that his speech normal. A relief, even though I knew it was. It's just nice to get a professional to say that. I don't know why. Why do I need someone else to tell me that my child's okay? Throughout the session today I was so nervous (I have exam-anxiety). Wondering if Ollie would say the right things or if he would just be obsessed with doors, other distractions. He said the right things most of the time. Well at least enough of the time to let the speech path know that he was okay. I am so relieved that I don't have to go to speech path sessions every week. Or rather relieved that his speech is progressing normally.

She said for the drooling problem to use star charts. Yes I could try that but I don't know if that would motivate him. We're supposed to give him a star everytime we see that his mouth is closed. Or i've been thinking, maybe he's drooling because he's got nose problems and has to breathe through his mouth so he keeps it open.